The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-05
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Tho Democratic Convention Meets
and Adopts Its Platform.

ROANOKE. Va, Aug. 4.-The Democratic
State convention assembled at noon. Hon.
John Goode, of Norfolk, permanent chair
man, addressed the convention, declaring in
favor of the R;ddleberger bill as finality in
the settlement of the State DEBT. He en-
dorsed President Cleveland amid great ap-
plauSe and paid warm tribute to the Penn
Sylyania troops, recently visitors at Gettys-
burg. He also eulogized the administration
and condemned civil service reform. The
platform contains the following:
The wise, conservative, fearless and honest adj
mlnistration of Grover Cleveland, President of
Inc Unlted States, deserves and VIII receive the
cordial support of Democratic Virginia
We demand the immediate repeal of the internal
revenue system relic s Of the war w & no longer
ment because it is oppressive, fosters monopolies
and IS obnoxious to The interests of the people.
We favor raising the requisite revenue by a
tariff upon imports, limited to the necessities of
the government economically administered, and
so adjusted in application as to prevent unequal
burdens, encourage productive Industry at home,
development of material resources and to afford
Just compensation to labor, but not to foster
monOpOlies.
We approve the action of the last General As
sembly, at its extra session in 1887, in refusing
70 accept The terms proposed by the bondholders
in connection with the settlement of the public
debt. The Democratic party will never support
or sanction any adjustment Of the debt which
shall impose larger liabilities on this common
NSaiO tndn tHOSS ItCOBulLtuy diiu piotlucu lOl
by the Riddleberger bill, and we pledge the party
to enact all the laws necessary to render such
settlement effective, final and decisive.
The Democratic party pledges itself to urge
upon Congress the Justice of its practical recog-
milton OF Nirginias equitable demands for com
penSatlon for her past muniticent concessions to
the territory of the Federal government, and also
for the loss to Virginia for the dismemberment Cf
her territory and the consequent reduction of tax
able values, In order that the, fund justly due Vir
ginia from this source may be available to aid In
releVlng the tax payers from the burdens OF the
present financial difficulties.
we re-asSert the determination OF the party to
literally provide for our disabled soldiers ana de-
Tor INDECENT widows OF soldiers who fell on the
held OF battle or died from the effects of wounds.
:, The Democratic party founded and organized
the public school system of Virginia, and has as
sisted every measure which has been passed to
secure its efficiency. We pledge the party to
tinue this support till every child in the Common
wealth, OF Whatever race or color. may secure the
beneht OF a free education. We earnestly adv0-
cate liberal approximation by the Federal gov
ernment IN aid OF education, in accordance with
the provisions of the Blair bill, or some better
measure.
The platform also pledges the party to pre-
vent. as far as practicable, cOnfiiction of con-
vict labor with honest labor; to oppose to
the introduction of foreign pauper labor, and
to request Congress to pass laws to prevent
immigration of such people as will be bur
den upon the taxpayers or compete with hon
est American labOrers. 1t demands that no
more land grants shall be made to railroads
or spectators.